Accept Discipline

On our prayer walk at church,

“And have you forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because he disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.’” Hebrews 12:5-6(NIV)

               The writer of Hebrews reminds his readers of the writings of Solomon on the issue of discipline. I love this passage because it refers back to the thoughts of the wisest man in the world. In my Bible, the heading of Proverbs 3 tells me the thoughts that follow are “Further Benefits of Wisdom.” 

               Solomon carries the message that we should not dislike God’s dealing with us and we are not to dislike it when God chastises us. God is shaping our character because of His love for us—He loves us that much.

               I have not always cared to receive God’s discipline when I saw others doing things I felt were more shockingly offensive. Nevertheless, as I reflect on those times, I hear God saying, “But I wanted more for you than that. You belong to me. You are to stand for me.”

               Dear Father God: Thank you for loving me so much that You did not allow me to go along my merry way, doing things that looked good in my own eyes. Help me to live for You. Guide me as I go through each day and show me how You want me to live for You. I give You all the praise. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen   

Judgement and Discipline

 “But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgement. When we are judged by the LORD, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 (NIV)

               Have you ever evaluated your actions or your attitude toward another person? Were your thoughts realistic? Or were they what you wanted them to be? Did you rationalize your stance, finding someone who had done worse deeds than you on which to pick?

               I once knew a young woman who thought of herself with an inflated mindset. It was not always in her best interests when she did this.  As I saw her do and say certain things, I wondered how she could mature if she kept this way of thinking.

               When God chastises us, it is definitely for our own good. We learn what He expects from us and what we are to do as we live for Him.

               God sets a standard for us. We cannot meet that norm by ourselves. He gave us Jesus so that we could become acceptable to Him.

               When God returns to judge the world for its sin, He will separate those who belong to Him from those who have rejected Him. Those He will reject will be dealt with on His terms, not theirs.

Summertime Around Our Home

Our venture into growing wild flowers in our back yard,

Trying to attract humming birds and butterflies

In our side yard,Sunflowers turned out to be tall ones.
A squirrel cut off the head of the tallest one and had a meal on the seeds.

The plants around the Community Garden sign.
 I see the sign and the garden each time I go out our front door,

I thought these were Clematis but,close up they look like Hollyhocks.

Beautiful Hisbiscus 

The subjects in the bottom three pictures are the work of one of our neighbors. The purple flowers and the Hibiscus are in their front yard.

Be Earnest

“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.

 So be earnest and repent.”

Revelation 3:19 (NIV)

               God speaks these words to the church at Laodicea through John. Earlier in the passage, He tells this church that is lukewarm—“neither hot nor cold.” God explains he will react to their deeds by “spitting you out of my mouth.”

               The people don’t understand their condition of being wretched, pitiful, poor, and naked. The heavenly Father advises the church to partake of good things He has to offer in order to “hide (their) shamefulness and to heal their spiritual blindness.

               Next, He speaks the words of our focus verse. What does He say? He explains that He rebukes those He loves. To rebuke another person, one criticizes sharply or reprimands.  When a person administers discipline, he or she uses the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience. It would seem to me that the use of reprimands and the training of people go hand in hand.

               God continues to tell the people of Laodicea what actions they can take to get back right with God. He simply tells them to be honest about how they have displeased Him and then tells them to turn away from those practices.

               Jesus told the woman He saved from stoning to “Go and sin no more.” I believe that is what God is saying to the church at Laodicea and to us today.

Random Journal Day Aug. 2015. Consider: Our Gratitude

My teal journal has those leaves imprinted in the cover.

Journal Entry March 22, 2004
Luke 17:11-19
               Jesus sent ten lepers to the priest. As they were enroute, they all were healed. Only one of them returned to thank Him. This grateful man happened to be a Samaritan—an ethnic outcast.
               Do we count ourselves as the grateful person who took the time to back up and say ,”Thank you” to Jesus? Or will we get to heaven’s gate and hear,” I never knew you, you didn’t appear grateful for all the Father did for you”?
               What are some things we should be grateful for?







Our Salvation
God’s Presence in our lives
Our Families
Our Church Families and friends 
 Our health/healings 
 God’s presence in and control over His creation
  Sensing His presence

God gives us so much; our only response should be to thank Him!

UPDATE:

               We all have a lot to thank God for. My list for thanking Him consists of everything from morning naps to having our son live in the same state. I sometimes record as many as six a day. But also, I have days when I have to really think about what I did that day to come up with a couple of them. I have been going through an extended ‘blah’ time but God has been there with me. I feel His presence each day. I am grateful for His presence and I thank Him for that regularly

               Do you feel His presence when you have times of being downhearted?

Linked to:enthusiasticallydawn

Discipline and Relief

More Sunflowers from 2013

“Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O LORD,

and whom You teach out of Your law; that You may

grant him relief from the days of adversity,

until a pit is dug for the wicked.”

Psalm 94:12-13 (NASB)

               The psalmist gives us comforting news here. The children of God who receive discipline are enriched. He teaches those who belong to Him according to His word.                        

               I find this is important to stress that God’s word is the basis of sound teaching. My Sunday school teacher reminded us recently that one way to identify false teaching is to see if it lines up with God’s Word. 

               When God chooses to chasten us for our bad behavior, we should pay attention to what tells us. He does this to make us more mature individuals and to show us that He cares about us.

               Sometimes, we get set straight by God not because we ourselves have misbehaved but because certain of our people have transgressed or broken their word to Him.

               God gives solace to those who live within the boundaries He establishes. Aren’t you glad He remembers us and gives us relief from our days of woe?

Discipline Hurts

From our garden in 2013.

“No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—

it hurts. But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living 

for those who are trained in this way.”

Hebrews 12:11 (NLT)

               When I was a child, I got my share of discipline. As a young child, I got spanked. When I got older, my parents grounded me. When I was in high school, I misunderstood what my mother told me and I went over to my friend’s house. She figured out where I was; called and told me to get home.

               She grounded me. At that time, I had a boyfriend whom I had to tell that I could only see him when we went someplace with my parents. I never had the courage to ask him what he thought of that arrangement. Looking back, I don’t know what was worse, being grounded at seventeen or having to tell my boyfriend.

               As I got older I learned, that my parents disciplined me because they loved me. At the time of this story, children and teens did not back talk their parents or they were in bigger trouble.

               When God disciplines us, we can’t argue with Him. He is sovereign and can do what He wants to get our attention. When we step outside of line with His plan for us, we need to realize that He will deal with us because of how much His loves us